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Processing Note

Note on Description: The descriptions in this collection guide were compiled using the best available sources of information.
Such sources include the creator's annotations or descriptions, collection accession files, primary and secondary source material
and subject matter experts. While every effort was made to provide accurate information, in the event that you find any errors
in this guide please contact the reference staff in order for us to evaulate and make corrections to this guide.

Please cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.

This collection was transferred from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Historical or Biographical Note

Captain George Warner Yardley (1879-1938) born in Yardley Pennsylvania. At an early age he stowed away aboard a Delaware river
boat. By age 27 he had gained his master"s papers. He came to San Francisco after the Spanish American war and whaling in
the Artic. He was employed by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, eventually rising to master of the GOLDEN STATE (steamer).
He continued on to be master of Dollar Line's PRESIDENT CLEVELAND and PRESIDENT HOOVER. The PRESIDENT HOOVER, reportedly a
$7.5 million dollar vessel and considered the most luxurious American made passenger ship sailing the Pacific sea during the
1930's, shipwrecked on a reef near the island of Hoishoto, eastward off Formosa in December 1937 with Captain Yardley at the
helm.

Collection Scope and Content

The Captain George Warner Yardley records SAFR 14306, HDC 98) consists of official documents, a scrapbook, and news clippings.

Official documents include a Master of Steam and Motor Vessels license dated October 19, 1936, issued by the United States
Department of Commerce Steamboat Inspection Service, "over any size vessel, in any ocean and first class pilot [in the] bay
of San Francisco, Benicia, Columbia River Bar, Astoria, Humbolt Bay, San Pedro Bay, each to sea; also from Tacoma to sea via
main channel routes." The certificate verso shows the captain's signature, certification for having passed color blindness
test, and a finger print. The license was issued in Honolulu, Hawaii. Other documents include a water-front pass with a photograph
for the Port of San Francisco with Yardley's occupation noted as Captain for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company dated May
14, 1918, and a USA Citizen Seaman's Identification Card with personal statistics and photograph. There is also a loose 20
page scrapbook relating to significant events aboard the PRESIDENT HOOVER, on which Yardley was captain. The collection is
processed and open for
use.

Collection Arrangement

Materials are arranged in three folders: personal documents, PRESIDENT HOOVER news clippings and a scrapbook.